2021 NCAC Men's Soccer Tournament

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2021 NCAC Men's Soccer Tournament Champions

Denison

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Semifinal Matches Championship Match
Wednesday, November 3 Saturday, November 6

#1 Kenyon 8, #4 Wabash 0 (Boxscore)

#3 Denison 1 at #2 Ohio Wesleyan 0 (Boxscore)

 #3 Denison 1, #1 Kenyon 0 (Boxscore)

Tournament Merchandise -- History -- Tournament Stats -- Championship Photos -- Tickets -- Directions

CHAMPIONSHIP: 

Denison claimed its third NCAC Men's Soccer Tournament title with a 1-0 victory over Kenyon in the Championship match on Saturday, Nov. 6, in Gambier, Ohio. 

As tournament champions, the Big Red earned the NCAC's automatic bid into the 2021 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer tournament. Denison is making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2009. The entire 64-team field will be revealed on Monday, Nov. 8, at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com via the selection show.

Kenyon started the match with the pressure on, taking two shots in the first four minutes of play. Denison would take its first two shots in the 11- and 14-minute marks. After another attempt by the Lords in the 18th minute, the Big Red would score the lone goal of the game in the 22nd minute, as freshman Cameron McIntosh (Worthington, OH/Thomas Worthington) found the back of the net. Kenyon would outshoot Denison 4-1 to finish out the frame.

After the half, the Lords continued to look for the equalizer, taking five shots in the span of the first 13 minutes. Kenyon's best scoring opportunity came from the head of senior Sam Carson (Denver, CO/Denver East) as his shot sailed just over the crossbar in the 61st minute. The Denison defense would hold on for the win, as the Lords took another nine shots before time expired.

Kenyon outshot Denison 22-8 and tallied 11 corner kicks to the Big Red's two. Kenyon's Carson, freshman Gerardo Martinez (Houston, TX/J. Frank Dobie) and junior Mac Nardiello-Smith (Columbus, OH/New Albany) would each record four shots in the game. Freshman goalkeeper Jack Pedreschi (Shirley, MA/Groton School) made three saves in the loss, while senior Dylan Brown (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester Adams) recorded five saves for the win.

The NCAC All-Tournament team was also revealed at the conclusion of the tournament. Twelve members from Denison, Kenyon, Ohio Wesleyan and Wabash made up the field. Denison's Brown was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

All-Tournament Team
Ethan Marshall, Ohio Wesleyan
Charlie Riddle, Ohio Wesleyan
Coledon Johnson, Wabash
Josh Scott, Wabash
Sam Carson, Kenyon
Sam Hosmer-Quint, Kenyon
Atli Hrafnkelsson, Kenyon
Pierre de la Croix-Vaubois. Denison
Burke McLaughlin, Denison
Lorenz Hoover, Denison
Jake Krueger, Denison
Dylan Brown, Denison (MVP)

SEMIFINALS:

No. 1 seed Kenyon held in the semifinal round of the 2021 NCAC Soccer Tournament on Wednesday as the Lords claimed an 8-0 victory over No.4-seed Wabash, while No. 3-seed Denison defeated No. 2-seed Ohio Wesleyan, 1-0. The Lords will host the Big Red in the championship final on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The winner of Saturday's tournament final earns the NCAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Lords were on the scoreboard early in the semifinal game as senior Scott Upton (Perrysburg, OH/St. Francis DeSales) scored in the fifth minute of action. Two additional Kenyon goals by sophomore Aidan Burns (Newfield, NJ/Delsea Regional) and junior Atli Hrafnkelsson (Hafnarfjorour, Iceland/Verzlunarskoli Islands) made the score 3-0 by halftime. Lords' senior Sam Carson (Denver, CO/Denver East) began the second half with back-to-back goals to stretch the lead to 5-0. Kenyon would extend its lead to 8-0 before the final buzzer sounded, earning its eighth-straight trip to the championship game, winning it all in 2014, '15, '16, '18 and '19.

In Delaware, Ohio, the Battling Bishops and Big Red remained scoreless through the first half of play. Ohio Wesleyan outshot Denison 9-3 in the first half, including three shot attempts by Bishop sophomore Charlie Riddle (Hilliard, OH/Davidson). Ohio Wesleyan continued to outshoot Denison in the second half, 11-6, but the Big Red connected in the 82nd minute as Burke McLaughlin (McLean, VA/Landon School) deposited a Ben Goeller (Oakwood, OH/Oakwood) cross from the left side. Denison heads to the NCAC tournament title game for the first time since 2010, last winning the tournament championship in 2009, edging Ohio Wesleyan by a 2-1 final.

SEEDINGS & PAIRINGS:

Kenyon (9-0-0) earned its 12th North Coast Athletic Conference championship after finishing the regular season with the maximum 27 points. Ohio Wesleyan leads the league with 23 conference titles followed by Kenyon (12), Wooster (3), Denison (2) and Wittenberg (1).

Ohio Wesleyan (8-1-0, 24 pts.) finished second in the regular season standings, followed by Denison (6-2-1, 19 pts.), Wabash (4-3-2, 14 pts.), DePauw (4-5-0, 12 pts.), Wooster (3-4-2, 11 pts.), Oberlin (3-4-2, 11 pts.), Allegheny (2-7-0, 6 pts.), Wittenberg (1-7-1, 4 pts.) and Hiram (1-8-03, pts.).

As NCAC champs, the Lords enter the NCAC Tournament as the top seed and will host fourth-seeded Wabash on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 2:00 p.m. Kenyon defeated the Little Giants in overtime, 2-1, in the regular season on Oct. 16. Second-seeded Ohio Wesleyan will host third-seeded Denison in the other semifinal match at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Ohio Wesleyan defeated Denison, 2-0, on Sept. 25 during the regular season.

The championship match is set for Saturday, Nov. 6, at the site of the highest remaining seed to emerge from the semifinal round. 

TOURNEY NOTES: The tournament winner receives the NCAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament ... Kenyon, making its 14th overall appearance in the field of four, currently owns the longest active streak of nine-straight appearances and will enter postseason play with five conference tournament titles ... The Lords maneuvered through the 2019 tournament bracket as the No. 1 seed by knocking off No. 4 Oberlin, 5-1, in the semifinals and No. 2 Ohio Wesleyan, 2-1, in the championship final ... Ohio Wesleyan returns to the NCAC postseason for the 20th time with a league-high 10 titles ... Denison is making its 11th appearance overall, last winning the tournament in 2009 … Wabash is returning to the tournament for the sixth-time in program history after making its debut in 2013 … Ohio Wesleyan leads all programs with 10 tournament titles, followed by Kenyon with five, DePauw and Denison with two apiece, while Allegheny has claimed one NCAC tourney title.